156 SCIENCE TEACHING. 



furnished with what they understood to be a complete set of the books used 

 in the Irish National Schools. They find that these books are well adapted for 

 the literary instruction of the children of various ages in those schools, and 

 that they contain much interesting information on the natural features and 

 resources of Ireland. But, except as to agriculture, they do not afford adequate 

 assistance towards graduated instruction in industrial processes, or in the 

 rudiments of the sciences on which those processes are founded. As the Irish 

 National Education Commissioners are by their regulations mainly responsible 

 for the selection of the books used in the schools, this defect should receive 

 their early attention. 



"There is a general consensus of opinion on the part of persons of all ranks 

 in that country, whatever may be their views on other subjects, that the pros- 

 perity of the poorer districts of Ireland may be greatly promoted by technical 

 instruction in handicrafts and in home industries. There is a conviction not less 

 general, and it is one which visits have fully confirmed in our minds, that the 

 children and young people of Ireland of the labouring class possess great manual 

 dexterity and aptitude, which only requires to be developed in order to be 

 useful to themselves and to those amongst whom they live. As evidence of 

 this, we need only refer to the remarkable success of the Christian Brothers, 

 and to that of the ladies of Religious Orders, in training children and young 

 persons for handicrafts, in Industrial Schools and institutions of a like 

 nature. There appears to be no reason why similar instruction to that which 

 is given in these schools should not be given elsewhere, if the necessary funds 

 and teachers are forthcoming. We have shown that instruction of this kind 

 given on the Continent to persons in remote districts, who would otherwise be 

 idle, has added materially to their resources, both directly, and by training 

 them for employment in larger industrial concerns, and we have ascertained 

 that no great expenditure of public money has been required in order to pro- 

 duce these effects. 



" Not only is instruction of this kind deemed to be desirable, but we have 

 found that there is a willingness on the part of benevolent persons in Ireland 

 to assist its promotion by subscriptions and in other ways. It is true that by 

 some it has been proposed that the Government should itself initiate, if it did 

 not entirely charge itself with this work, but we were happy to find there were 

 others who would be quite satisfied if its utility received the imprimatur of the 

 Government, and if the State offered rewards for the ascertained results of 

 instruction of this kind. We are of opinion that successful work of this nature, 

 whether it be conducted by individuals or societies, or by religious bodies, 

 deserves the recognition and reward of the Government. We think it no part 

 of our duty to state which are the home industries best adapted to the condi- 

 tions of different parts of Ireland, Each locality will be able to form its own 

 judgment in regard to this, and due weight should be given by the Government 

 to such local expression of opinion ; payment in all cases being dependent 

 upon the results obtained in the schools or classes. We do not think it would 

 be possible for the Government to train teachers for a variety of home indus- 

 tries, but it might contribute to the payment of such teachers appointed by the 

 localities : and it would be expedient to establish a class of itinerant teachers 

 for service in districts where resident instructors cannot be maintained. 



" These suggestions apply even in a greater degree to the instruction of 

 girls than of boys. 



t "We need scarcely point out that, if it be deemed desirable to introduce 

 manual instruction in the use of tools in elementary schools at all, this would 

 apply in an eminent degree to the primary schools of Ireland. It was stated 

 in evidence before us that in some parts of Ireland, ordinary handicrafts, like 

 those of the mason, have become absolutely extinct. Whether the children 



